Chapter 27

Both slept through the entire morning and woke up for lunch with the bang of a bell. That meal felt heavy on her stomach. It was probably going to be Tua Nui’s last… anything. And the feeling of tightness taking hold of her chest invaded her again.

Arline got ready all on her own company. The armor fit her like a glove. It allowed her movement and gave her protection, and it was light as a feather. She braided her hair and armed herself with her sword.

A throat clearing took her out of her immersion on the palace. “Are you ready?” Tua Nui said standing on the gate like a soldier ready to escort his Queen.

And Arline took a deep breath and said. “I am.” Not an ounce of doubt in her voice.

“Don’t doubt your ability for a second-” Tua was saying but stopped himself when Arline hugged him tightly one last time.

“I am ready but I am so sorry, Tua,”Arline’s voice was a whisper taken away by the sound of the sea.

“Oh dear. There is no reason to feel guilt or sorry. Whenever you need of me, just sing to the water Arline, and I will visit you,” he said and kissed the top of her head. “Claim what is yours and allow yourself to be loved by him.”

The Regent last advised her and got out of the cabin, leaving her alone with her thoughts once again. Tua looked so ready for his fate. So brave or at least he didn’t show if he was afraid to die.

The sun began disappearing when she met Merrick and Tua by the shore. The Dark Prince was wearing his usual black armor and his black steel sword.

Arline and Merrick invoked stallions made of water and shadow that galloped through the waves until they arrived in front of the door of the fortress. Two mermen were guarding the gigantic crystal and tinted doors with gilded tridents and massive swords on their sides.

“We are here to see…my father,” Arline said with a wobbling throat.

The soldiers scanned her and let them both in. Stepping away from Merrick, which allowed a grin to form on the face of the Dark Prince. When the doors opened, they both were startled by the gigantic white marble hall extending in front of them, that directed them to the centre of the fortress.

The entire walk was illuminated by candles and when they reached the circular room, surrounded by pillars, Arline remembered the place instantly.

“Hello Daughter,” Pelagius was sitting on a round table, looking straight into the hall as they approached. The grin that formed on his face at the sight of his Heir faded as soon as she saw the God of Light and Shadow following her. “Young Merrick is here. Oh he must love you indeed, Arline. Even after she left you alone with the Iron Crown?”

“You talk as if that wasn’t your doing,” Merrick answered calmly but with rage filled eyes.

“Your brother was of use as well, very weak mind to slip in,” Pelagius said and waved a hand for them to seat which they did. “I expected some insults from you, my Heir.”

“I expected some threats. Apparently we disappoint a lot of people these days,” she replied looking directly into his eyes.

Pelagius was weak. Arline knew that much. But his power was immense as she could feel how her powers were slowly giving in to their current yielder.

The God of Water looked at his Heir and his gaze darkened at the sight of the porcelain covering her body. Surprise number one: her alliance with the Undersea. Arline only smirked at the realization.

“You are right, you are a disappointment and a traitor to people’s trust,” Pelagius tried to hide his anger on his hoarse voice.

“Because of this?” Arline traced the wave shaped shoulder blade. “The Undersea is not as bad as they painted it to be,” the High Council had always considered that part of the ocean as the hell on earth for the guardians. Only because they couldn’t control them, not even Pelagius could.

“Monsters,” he spat with disgust.

“And you are not?” Arline’s tone lost playfulness.

On Pelagius’ side, he had to hide how impressed she was that the Queen of the Undersea granted her an armor, but was alsogrowing impatient by every minute Arline chose not to begin the battle. He knew Arline was copying Merrick’s unpredictability to such extent it was driving him to the edge, shifting on his seat imperceptibly.

“The Crown will suit you,” the Deity of Water said, completely changing the subject. Inciting the conflict to begin the battle.

“Why not just give her your power willingly?” Merrick asked him.

“The way Hazavana did with you? I am still impressed you survived her powers,” Pelagius laughed with a rough voice, terrifying voice. “You want the throne? Earn it,” He barked on her face and Arline didn’t move a muscle, didn’t even look moved by his words.

The Heir stood up and began pacing around the room, trying to fade away her terror. “Scared of a battle, father?” Arline asked bitterly with a smirk drawn on her face. And she drew her sword.

“

” Pelagius thought with pride as he watched her sword coming out.

“This is between you and me,” the God of Water stood up and drew his weapon. “Merrick will taste my soldiers,” as he said those words, mermen walked through the doors and surrounded the Dark Prince taking attacking stances.

They both hit their weapons at the same time and the fight began. Pelagius’ sword skill was deadly, ancient but classic. And Arline held herself as any other ancient warrior would have done. She could feel the power of the waters every time the sword hit a spot on his armor. Again, Pelagius was impressed. Very well hidden but impressed nevertheless. He felt how she had received warrior training not soldier training and cursed Merrick on the other side of the room, knowing he was the one responsible for it.

In the mean time of their fight, Merrick had to handle eight strong mermen. His shadows were doing most of the work but even that couldn’t avoid him getting weapons thrown at him. His skill in battling showed during this time. Arline’s ability and technique were a carbon copy of Merrick’s. Every trick and slash thrown, even their steps were synchronized.

Water was now trying to please and obey both of them. Making it confusing for the element. But with every slash of her sword towards the Deity of Waters, a ropes of water rose and tried to injure him but with ease and experience he held them down.

She needed him bleeding, injured, even a scratch could make the water to prefer her, to accept her. The clashing of iron and the waves forming outside the palace were everything they heard and saw as the minutes passed and cuts adorned their skin and armors.

They fought each other, never giving up terrain nor strength. Sweat was dripping from their skin and their aching muscles were burning every time they took a step towards each other or whenever they lifted their swords.

Pelagius was too focused on Arline to notice Merrick sneaking behind his back and sending a slash of his sword on the right side of his ribs, cutting through the metallic mesh.

The God of Water screamed in pain and sent Arline to impact against a pillar and fall to the ground, taking the air out of her system and making her vision blurry.

“You little shit,” he cursed Merrick cornering him and ready to kill him but Arline yanked him away from his wrist, makingtwo straps of water to tie around it.

Mermaids began falling from the dome and landing on their feet. Ready to avenge their master, to take care of the Dark Prince. Pelagius was going to make sure Arline’s attention was just for him, not the God of Light and Shadow, whose powers were useful up to an extent.

Father and daughter continued trying to murder each other. With Merrick’s slash, the water came to her easier but still answered to Pelagius’ calls. The God’s sword impacted on the side of her arm, where mesh covered her body and slashed through it. It cut her flesh and made her drip blood all over the floor.

“Low move to have a silver weapon on your hands,” she said. “Good news for me, the burning is familiar,” Pelagius eyes darkened at the sight of her regaining strength on her good arm.

Surprise number two: Pelagius didn’t know that during her time hosting the Queen of Blood, Arline had accustomed her body to silver, making her almost immune to it. An insignificant slash wasn’t going to weaken her.

He gruntedand sent a wave that crushed through the window, shattering glass, crystal and coral. But Arline blocked it with ease and turned it on him.

Arline knew water in that form wouldn’t go against Pelagius but the water couldn’t resist the wind and she used her binding with Zeroun to turn the wave into a helix and sent it his way, crashing him against the wall.

Pelagius tried catching his breath and wrapping his mind around her power. When he saw her running to Merrick’s side to aid him against his deadly mermaids, he held her back. He restrained her with water shaped as arms that dragged her away.

“No! Merrick!” She yelled in anguish. “Merrick!”

The mermaids hissed each time they managed to cut through the Dark Prince’s flesh. Slashing his legs or arms and making him lose blood all over the marble floor.

This was her biggest fear. Arline was terrified as Pelagius slowly approached Merrick, dragging his sword and his feet with a smile on his face, while she screamed over and over again for him to leave.

She was fighting against the water to free herself in desperation and when she managed a weak spot, Arline pulled Pelagius from his feet and sent his sword through the window. Now it was hand in hand.

But Merrick was growing weaker, losing blood and strength.And his powers were giving in to his own body. Before anything else could hurt him any longer, Zeydar broke through the east wall.

Showing teeth and letting out a deafening roar, she burned the mermaids surrounding Merrick. With one deep look into Arline’s eyes, she understood and executed her master’s orders. “

”

The marbled dragon swiftly serpent her body across the room and took hold of the King of Reiska, whose energies were all spiked up because of the commotion. He tried moving to free himself, to escape and continue to help her.

“Zeydar put me down! Arline, no!” He yelled before the dragon extended her wings and took off, heading back to Tessenissit as he yelled her name into the skies.

“You and that damned dragon,” Pelagius admired the fire on her eyes. Her will to fight and destroy him.

“

this is between you and me…Aito,” Arline purred his name with hesitation.

It linked him to Tua Nui, something he despised. It reminded him he was also human and his only destiny from now on was death.

And his reaction was expected. Filled with rage, he threw sharp spikes of water at her but Arline rolled behind one of the marbled pillars and hid for a few seconds, trying to recover some air.

“You better come out and face me, spoiled brat.”

Arline took it all in. Her powers and abilities, remembering who she really was. With her chin up, chest forward and hands ready, she stepped away from the hiding spot, ready to continue the fight.